Pug Help/Advice.
Discussion
Just over 12 months ago, my step son and his partner re-homed a stud Pug, Brian.
My partner and I had talked long and hard about having a dog and had agreed that, when we retire in 7-8 years time would be best, with both of us being 60.
However, since Brian has entered our lives, we are questioning these plans. He is such a character that we are constantly looking through the Pug ads and then discussing the logic behind waiting.
We are both teachers, so leave around 8am and don't return until between 4 and 5pm. Would it be fair to have a dog under those circumstances? Admitedly, when we were home the dog would'nt lack attention, but I can't help but worry about leaving one alone for such a large part of the day.
On the other hand, my partner feels it would be better to have one sooner rather than later, as the dog could grow old with us and we may end up regretting waiting 6 or 7 years.
If anyone has found themselves in the same position and would be prepared to share their experiences and/or give advise, I would be grateful for any positive comments. Thanks.
My partner and I had talked long and hard about having a dog and had agreed that, when we retire in 7-8 years time would be best, with both of us being 60.
However, since Brian has entered our lives, we are questioning these plans. He is such a character that we are constantly looking through the Pug ads and then discussing the logic behind waiting.
We are both teachers, so leave around 8am and don't return until between 4 and 5pm. Would it be fair to have a dog under those circumstances? Admitedly, when we were home the dog would'nt lack attention, but I can't help but worry about leaving one alone for such a large part of the day.
On the other hand, my partner feels it would be better to have one sooner rather than later, as the dog could grow old with us and we may end up regretting waiting 6 or 7 years.
If anyone has found themselves in the same position and would be prepared to share their experiences and/or give advise, I would be grateful for any positive comments. Thanks.
Don't.
You cannot leave any dog alone for 8-9 hours a day 5 days a week. Dogs are pack animals don't forget. They must have company and of course care during the day.
When you retire you will be a position to offer a fantastic home to a dog/s if you wish to.
In the mean time why not do some weekend dog walking for your local dogs home? It's great fun and always appreciated by the dogs!
You cannot leave any dog alone for 8-9 hours a day 5 days a week. Dogs are pack animals don't forget. They must have company and of course care during the day.
When you retire you will be a position to offer a fantastic home to a dog/s if you wish to.
In the mean time why not do some weekend dog walking for your local dogs home? It's great fun and always appreciated by the dogs!
If my sister's pug is anything to go by, I wouldn't advise it in your situation. Very demanding and attention seeking dog, that one. She hates being left for any more than a couple of hours; my sister has to go home on her lunch breaks to make sure pug (Uhem... Daisy) is not making a mischief of herself.
Great choice of dog, though. As soon as you meet one, you want one
As mentioned, walking for the dogs home is a good idea though
Gratuitous pug shot:
Great choice of dog, though. As soon as you meet one, you want one
As mentioned, walking for the dogs home is a good idea thoughGratuitous pug shot:
Really not a good idea to get a dog with teaching hours unless you're willing to either pay for the dog to go to doggy day care or employ a dog walker to take it out around midday. Cost would be around £10-£15 a day, unless a friendly neighbour could do the same as a favour? How close do you live to school, would it be possible to go home for lunch and walk him/her yourself? I'm a trainee teacher and will probably go for the doggy day care option when I'm qualified, purely because my dogs are very active and very people orientated.
If you do decide to take one on maybe consider adopting an older dog rather than a puppy, a puppy would definitely need daycare rather than just a midday walk and an older dog may cope better if you go down the route of just coming home for lunch or a dog walker.
If you do decide to take one on maybe consider adopting an older dog rather than a puppy, a puppy would definitely need daycare rather than just a midday walk and an older dog may cope better if you go down the route of just coming home for lunch or a dog walker.
Of course it's possible to leave a dog for eight hours, just not ideal. More appropriate with an adult dog, where they sleep more than a pup will, and have less need for interaction. A dog flap would allow access outside for toileting, but would not be the best idea for this breed as the bulging eyes are not well protected and would be prone to damage bumping in and out.
Drivel said:
If my sister's pug is anything to go by, I wouldn't advise it in your situation. Very demanding and attention seeking dog, that one. She hates being left for any more than a couple of hours; my sister has to go home on her lunch breaks to make sure pug (Uhem... Daisy) is not making a mischief of herself.
Great choice of dog, though. As soon as you meet one, you want one As mentioned, walking for the dogs home is a good idea though
Gratuitous pug shot:
I love pugs. They have so much expression on their faces you can read them like a book.Great choice of dog, though. As soon as you meet one, you want one
As mentioned, walking for the dogs home is a good idea thoughGratuitous pug shot:
By the way, if that's your sisters pug, her paws look a little splayed out because of the length of the claws. They'll need trimming back bit by bit.
http://www.pet-expo.com/trivia/dogs-nailtrim.htm
AlexC1981 said:
I love pugs. They have so much expression on their faces you can read them like a book.
By the way, if that's your sisters pug, her paws look a little splayed out because of the length of the claws. They'll need trimming back bit by bit.
http://www.pet-expo.com/trivia/dogs-nailtrim.htm
Don't worry, they were done straight after By the way, if that's your sisters pug, her paws look a little splayed out because of the length of the claws. They'll need trimming back bit by bit.
http://www.pet-expo.com/trivia/dogs-nailtrim.htm
fistofsteel said:
Of course it's possible to leave a dog for eight hours, just not ideal. More appropriate with an adult dog, where they sleep more than a pup will, and have less need for interaction. A dog flap would allow access outside for toileting, but would not be the best idea for this breed as the bulging eyes are not well protected and would be prone to damage bumping in and out.
Sorry but "not ideal" just doesn't cut it. No dog should be regularly left alone for more than a few hours. If you don't agree with this then you simply do not understand dogs and their needs.ryanjohnstott said:
fistofsteel said:
Of course it's possible to leave a dog for eight hours, just not ideal. More appropriate with an adult dog, where they sleep more than a pup will, and have less need for interaction. A dog flap would allow access outside for toileting, but would not be the best idea for this breed as the bulging eyes are not well protected and would be prone to damage bumping in and out.
Sorry but "not ideal" just doesn't cut it. No dog should be regularly left alone for more than a few hours. If you don't agree with this then you simply do not understand dogs and their needs.And before you accuse people of not understanding the topic of conversations may be you should check what they do.
ryanjohnstott said:
fistofsteel said:
Of course it's possible to leave a dog for eight hours, just not ideal. More appropriate with an adult dog, where they sleep more than a pup will, and have less need for interaction. A dog flap would allow access outside for toileting, but would not be the best idea for this breed as the bulging eyes are not well protected and would be prone to damage bumping in and out.
Sorry but "not ideal" just doesn't cut it. No dog should be regularly left alone for more than a few hours. If you don't agree with this then you simply do not understand dogs and their needs.And before you accuse people of not understanding the topic of conversations may be you should check what they do.
bexVN said:
I think you misunderstood fistofsteel's comments. He is right it is possible and there are plenty of people do (just ask on here!) but as he said no it's not ideal and yes should be avoided.
And before you accuse people of not understanding the topic of conversations may be you should check what they do.
I said that "not ideal to leave a dog 8 hours" doesn't cut in my view because dogs should never be regularly left alone for this long. Of course it's possible to do this but that's totally irrelevant.And before you accuse people of not understanding the topic of conversations may be you should check what they do.
Re your comments regarding his occupation - I'm disappointed a vet thinks its only "not ideal" to leave a dog all day every day.
ryanjohnstott said:
bexVN said:
I think you misunderstood fistofsteel's comments. He is right it is possible and there are plenty of people do (just ask on here!) but as he said no it's not ideal and yes should be avoided.
And before you accuse people of not understanding the topic of conversations may be you should check what they do.
I said that "not ideal to leave a dog 8 hours" doesn't cut in my view because dogs should never be regularly left alone for this long. Of course it's possible to do this but that's totally irrelevant.And before you accuse people of not understanding the topic of conversations may be you should check what they do.
Re your comments regarding his occupation - I'm disappointed a vet thinks its only "not ideal" to leave a dog all day every day.
Buying a puppy to then leave it several hrs a day is not right and I feel the OP has come to the right decision. However circumstances change and unfortunately this situation can't always be avoided hence the 'not idea's
In our line of work this has to be considered so I do not think this is a disappointing response from a vet.
If your circumstances change then you need to change the dogs circumstances in order that it is not left all day, every day alone.
To just accept it as not ideal is just not good enough.
Further more, in this instance we were not talking about a change in circumstances were we? The OP was asking if it would be ok to leave a dog all day every day and the vet said not ideal.
I say, the "not ideal" response is not good enough from a vet in these circumstances.
To just accept it as not ideal is just not good enough.
Further more, in this instance we were not talking about a change in circumstances were we? The OP was asking if it would be ok to leave a dog all day every day and the vet said not ideal.
I say, the "not ideal" response is not good enough from a vet in these circumstances.
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